I took this photo back in August of 2007, in north suburban Skokie Illinois.

In case You were wondering...No, I was not stepping in to the very dangerous third rail section of tracks here at the Chicago Transit Authority's Dempster Street yellow line station to get this unique photo. I was standing on a wooden railroad crossing and looking north.

A CTA yellow line train aka the Skokie Swift, has just arrived at the Dempster Street terminal in Skokie Illinois USA.

Soon the train will reverse direction, and pull up to the boarding platform.

One of My all time favorite eating places to get some delicious take out food from in northwest suburban Elmwood Park Illinois USA, is Johnnie's Italian Beef at the intersection of North and 75th Avenues.

The place is always crowded, and the food is always hot fresh and delicious.

I took this photo just this past Sunday afternoon, on location at the River Grove Metra commuter rail station.

Coming through the station, is a slow moving Canadian Pacific Railroad light engine movement. The engine shown here running solo, is a former Iowa, Chicago & Eastern locomotive acquired through merger in 2009.

Looking west from the Wolf Road railroad crossing south of Green Street in northwest suburban Bensenville Illinois USA, We see a former Soo Line EMD roadswitcher, working a Canadian Pacific switching local on industrial branchline trackage.

On Saturday, August 6th from 11:00 AM until 12:30 PM, Eddie K the host and photographer of the popular Chicago based internet blogsite Eddie's Railfan Page http://eddiesrailroad.blogspot.com, will be hosting a photo slideshow event at the Melrose Park Public Library entitled Kiddieland Memories!

If You were either a former Kiddieland Employee, or someone who enjoyed visiting the Kiddieland Amusement Park at the northwest corner of First and North Avenues in Melrose Park Illinois with family or friends, then You won't want to miss this fun presentation.

The Mlerose Park Public Library, is located at 801 Broadway Street, in northwest suburban Melrose Park Illinois.Admission is free.

The club has their sessions on Monday and Wednsday evenings, from 7:00 until 9:00 PM.Although sometimes time really does fly, and the sessions are coming to a close justbefore You know it...quiting time at the end of the evening session can be specialin it's own right as well.

Yes, Myself and the other club members are packing our train equipment away priorto going home for the night, but also during this time...many lively conversations,ideas and a joke or two are swapped between the guys, making this a fun session.

Seen here is My circa 1972 early merger era Illinois Central Gulf Railroad switchinglocal, heading in to the rear staging yard at the end of the session.

Seen here pushing a small cut of covered hoppers westbound along the southside of Armitage Street in northwest suburban Melrose Park Illinois, is the Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad industrial switching local that operates from nearby Norpaul Yard.

I grew up in the city of Chicago Illinois USA during the 1960's and 70's era.

One of My favorite periods of the 1970's, was the American Bi Centenial celebration of 1976.

It seemed like every transporation company back then, painted everything from buses, railroad locomotives and semi trucks, in to their own special commemorative American Bi Centenial patriotic color schemes.

I just had to have one of these back in the 1990's, for use on My small H.O Scale electric streetcar layout wich was set in the early to mid 1970's era.

Seen here is an American Precision Scale Models Company H.O Scale General Motors 1950's era old look GM TDH series 40 foot transit bus, wich I custom painted to look like a city transit bus painted up in a patriotic American Bi Centenial color scheme.

I took this photo in the city of Milwaukee Wisconsin USA, way back on Saturday, June 8th, 2000.

I was aboard the official Milwaukee County Transit District's "Last run of the GMC Fishbowl Windshield Transit Bus" excursion, with a group from The Midwest Transit Bus Museum from Cresthill Illinois, and The Chicago Chapter of the Omnibus Society of America.

One of the points of interest on our last run bus charter, was viewing a collection of recently retired MCTD buses at one of the transit company garage facilities in Milwaukee.

A bus fan is viewed taking notes and bus numbers from the fleet of retired transit buses.

I was in the right place at the right time, when this heavilly weather beaten but somehow un grafitti tagged ex Illinois Central Gulf covered hopper car from the early 1980's era, was passing through over the Belt Railway of Chicago tracks.

One of the most kindhearted people I have come to know, was My late great Grandmother In Law Josephine T. Kwit.

I met Mrs Kwit in 2002, shortly after I began dating her Grand Daughter Cheryl in 2002. Cheryl and I were engaged after two years, and officially became married in June of 2006. Josephine or "Grandma" as many people called her, shared many common interests with Me. She loved to sing whenever I would bring out My guitar, She always had a hot pot of coffee waiting for Me either when I was leaving for work in the morning, or when I would return home in the evening.

Grandma Josephine enjoyed posing for pictures and "Hamming it up" for My camera. She was very kind to Animals and Children, and Her greatly pronounced Polish accent along with Her warm sense of humor, could charm You in to a smile even when You were having a really bad day.

Her sudden passing in June of 2009, caught Her family and friends completely off gaurd.

You were an absolutely wonderful person Grandma, and We still miss You greatly today.The house radiated sunshine when You were with us.

You are still in our hearts and memories today, and always. We love and miss You Grandma.

Seen here parked immediately north of adjacent West 51st Street just east of South Lawndale Avenue, is a Grand Trunk Western Railroad EMD Roadswitcher locomotive, a caboose and some empty piggyback flatcars, at the soon to be closed GTW Elsdon Yard facility.

This photo was actually taken during the final week of operation at Elsdon Yard.

Welcome aboard Eddie's Railfan Page, from the city of Chicago Illinois USA.

I took this photo during a May 2011 visit to The Oak Park Society of Model Engineers H.O Scale Model Railroad Club, or wich I am a member of Myself.

Aside from the many fine examples of modern and classic early vintage diesel powered trains that operate on the club layout, the steam era of American railroading isn't forgotten here either.

Seen here waiting for clearance to depart from the rear staging yard, is a Bachman Spectrum Series 4-6-0 1910 era Baldwin steam locomotive owned by fellow club member Alex.

With markings from the Chicago & NorthWestern Railroad's own subsidiary Chicago, Minneapolis, St. Paul & Omaha on the side of the cab, and a classic wooden steam era Chicago & NorthWestern Railroad caboose coupled on...It will soon be "Highball" time for Alex's steam era freight train.

The Oak Park Society of Model Engineers H.O Scale Model Railroad Club, is located at 255 Augusta Boulevard in west suburban Oak Park Illinois. The club meets on Monday and Wednsday nights from 7:00 until 9:00 PM, in the basement of the Oak Park Public Library's Dole Learning Center building.

From 1928 until the park had closed for good in September of 2009, Chicago's Kiddieland Amusement Park in northwest suburban Melrose Park Illinois, provided many families with local Summertime amusement park fun.

Guest speaker Eddie K from the popular Chicago based internet blogsite Eddie's Railfan Page http://eddiesrailroad.blogspot.com, will be hosting a photo slideshow event entitled Kiddieland Memories at the Melrose Park Public Library, located at 801 Broadway Street in northwest suburban Melrose Park Illinois on Saturday, August 6th from 11:00 AM until 12:30 PM.

Relive the magic and memories of Kiddieland Amusement Park through the photos and live video snipets from Eddie K's own archives!

If You have an old home movie of Kiddieland transfered to a DVD Disc, some old photos, or maybe just a memory or two to share with the audience....then You should enjoy this fun presentation.

Wether You were a former employee of Kiddieland Amusement Park, or just someone who enjoyed visiting the place with family or friends, this will be a fun event and We hope to see You there.

I photographed this silent digital video with My old camera, during a September 2007 vacation to the city of Memphis Tennesee USA.

It is early in the morning, and a yellow refurbished early 1900's era Brill single truck streetcar from Oporto Portugal, is viewed heading northbound on Main Street and the intersection of Madison Avenue, in downtown Memphis.

I was one of many passengers aboard a mainline steam locomotive powered fantrip excursion from Chicago to Sterling Illinois.

The trip was sponsored by the 20th Century Railroad Club of Chicago, and utilized preserved Nickle Plate Road 2-8-4 Berkshire Class Lima Locomotive Works engine # 765, from the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society in Indiana.

The locomotive is shown here prior to departure, at the former NorthWestern Station site in downtown Chicago Illinois, wich was recently renamed "The NorthWestern Atrium Center."

Unfortunately...this excursion trip was on the HOTTEST day of 1985. The outside temperature topped 100 Degrees Farenheight, and the air conditioning in My coach wasn't in working order at all. I rode in the vestibule standing up at an open dutch door to catch some wind.

It was My first mainline steam excursion, and believe Me...It was a HOT one at that.

During the 1980's, one of My all time favorite Summertime activities on the southwest side of Chicago, was visiting the annual neighborhood summer carnival at St Richard's Catholic Parish Church near Chicago's Midway Airport.

They had absolutely what had to be the COOLEST neighborhood summer carnival anywhere in the city of Chicago, and My Summer was not complete without stopping in and having some fun at it.

Today, the bad economy, a changing parish clientel, a lack of church volunteers and other negative factors of todays era, have caused the people at Saint Richard's parish to no longer hold their annula summer carnival.

However, the church now holds a more cost effective and practical "Taste of Garfield Ridge Festival" in the church parking lot every year on Labor Day weekend, in wich many local southwest side Chicago eateries from this area, showcase their food specialties.

Although there no longer is a Saint Richard's carnival at West 50th Street and South Kostner Avenue, My memories and photos of it remind Me of much better times.

The city of Chicago Illinois USA, is known for it's many neighborhood eateries.

Pizza, is one of the more popular food choices on the southwest side of the city, as there are many local Italian Pizzeria restaurants in this area of the city.

A popular neighborhood Pizzeria restaurant located on West 63rd Street and South Melvina Avenue in Chicago's Clearing neighborhood near Midway Airport, is Vince's Pizza, wich has been in business here since 1956.

The food is good here and the prices are well within reason. A nice place to get together with family or friends for some very tasty southside Chicago style pizza or pasta entrees.

I photographed this digital live sound video one night after work, back in September of 2009.Night time is now upon the greater Chicagoland area. A northbound Chicago Transit Authority yellow line rapid transit train, is viewed crossing Oakton Street at dusk, in north suburban Skokie Illinois.

I took this photo during a May 2011 visit to The Oak Park Society of Model Engineers H.O Scale Model Railroad Club.

Fellow club member Mitch, decided on this particular night, to operate His late 1960's era Illinois Central Railroad EMD roadswitcher on a passenger train.

I grew up on the near southwest side of Chicago during the 1960's and 70's era, and I could remember seeing the Illinois Central and after 1972, the succesor Illinois Central Gulf Railroad locomotives in this orange and white color scheme.

It was an atractive color scheme, but unfortunately...it did not weather well. By the 1980's, many ICG locomotives in this color scheme looked very weather beaten and badly faded.

Welcome aboard Eddie's Railfan Page, from the city of Chicago Illinois USA.

If You are traveling on vacation to, or visiting relatives in the Chicago area...one place that Youy won't want to miss visiting, is the very lovely Chicago Botanic Garden in north suburban Glencoe Illinois USA.

With it's many outdoor gardens, a beautiful lake, and even an outdoor G Scale garden model railroad exhibit, this is a beautiful place worth driving to in the greater Chicagoland area.

Be sure to come out to the Melrose Park Public Library located at 801 Broadway Street in northwest suburban Melrose Park Illinois, on Saturday, August 6th 2011 from 11:00 to 12:30 PM.

Visiting the library, will be gusest speaker and host Eddie K from the popular Chicago based internet blog site "Eddie's Railfan Page"http://eddiesrailroad.blogspot.com

Eddie will be hosting an historic and interactive presentation entitled "Kiddieland Memories!"

From 1928 until the park had closed for good in September of 2009, Chicago's Kiddieland Amusement Park had provided many happy Summertime memories at the northwest corner of First and North Avenues in Melrose Park Illinois.

If You have a memory or two of Kiddieland that You would like to share with the audience, then please by all means..."Come on down!"

If You have an old home movie of Kiddieland transfered to a DVD disc, some old photos or other local Chicago area amusement park memorabilia from the past, then You should really enjoy this presentation.

Everyone from former Kiddieland employees to families who visited Kiddieland, are more than welcome here.

This will be a fun event, admission is free, and We hope to see You there for the Kiddieland Memories musical photo slideshow presentation at the Melrose Park Public Library on Saturday, August 6th 2011.

My cousin Allen took this photo, during a recent vacation road trip to Pueblo Colorado USA.

During the years prior to Amtraks begining in 1971, many North American railroads that were still operating their own passenger trains, utilized these modified box cars to haul bulk mail and less than carload freight parcels aboard passenger trains.

Railroads were losing money on long distance and regional passenger trains, as many people were flying by commercial airlines more and more for their vacation and business travel during the 1950's and 60's.

These cars and the cargos they hauled, helped to subsidize the cost of passenger train operations in their waning years.

I took this photo during My September 2006 Honeymoon vacation, to Lake Geneva Wisconsin USA..

Located north of Lake Geneva in the town of East Troy Wisconsin, is this really nice electric trolley museum known as The East Troy Electric Railroad and Museum.

One of the more popular electric streetcars operated here, is this homebuilt "Replica" open car. Believe it or not...this car has a multi chime air horn like You would hear today on any given railroad diesel locomotive.

One of My favorite places to stop for an early morning coffee or snack on My way to work, is the Mc Donald's fast food restaurant on the northeast corner of Milwaukee Avenue and Oakton Street, in northwest suburban Niles Illinois.

The food is good and quiete inexpensive, the staff is very nice, and the place is very clean.

This picture was just recently donated to My photo archives, by My cousin Allen Huff.

Allen and His Wife Kari, just recently took a vacation road trip to Pueblo Colorado.

Steam locomotives from the late steam era prior to dieselization on America's railroads during the 1940's and 50's era, were huge machines.

Standing next to one of these giants, is My cousin Allen. Atchinson, Topeka & Santa Fe Baldwin 4-8-4 steam locomotive # 2912, was built during World War 2, and was one of the last "New" steam locomotives delivered to the Santa Fe.

These locomotives, were known as the 2900 Class 4-8-4 Northerns. These engines, were dual service locomotives used on both passenger and freight trains, until retired during the mid 1950's.

A sister A,T & S,F 2900 class 4-8-4 Northern #2903, is on display at The Illinois Railway Museum in the town of Union Illinois USA.www.irm.org

With Chicago and many other parts of North America's mid section experiencing extreme 94 degrees plus heat waves with 100 degrees plus dangerous heat indexes...it's almost hard to believe that Chicago was digging out of a severe snowstorm just a few mere months ago back in February.

This photo was taken in Glenview Illinois, on the morning of Thursday, February 3rd, 2011.The infamous Chicago blizzard of 2011, dropped a record 20.9 inches of heavy and wet snow accumulation during an almost 24 hour period begining on the afternoon of Tuesday, February 1st.

Just like it was in 1979 after Chicago's heavy snow accumulations from the big blizzard had melted, Chicago soon experienced a very hot summer in it's wake.

I found this photo at My Link page Fallen Flags.Org, located to the right of Your computer screen.

Although I have many of My own photographs of railroad subjects, I still occasionally feel a need to post photos of historic railroad subjects from decades past for reference purposes.

Fallen Flags.Org...has become one of My all time favorite historic railroad photo pages.

I grew up on the near southwest side of Chicago Illinois Myself, during the 1960's, 70's and 80's. Many people have told Me, that the former Pennsylvania Railroad, had a large prescence on the southside of Chicago and nearby northwest Indiana.

This photo shows one of the Pennsylvania Railroads own EMD SW 1 yard switchers, from the early diesel era dating from the 1940's and 50's era.

Fallen Flags.Org, is an absolutely wonderful website to look for historic reference photos like these.

One of My all time favorite photographic subjects, are sunsets and the approaching skies of nightfall.

To Me, the ending of a day was always a magical and colorful time...unless of course it is raining pretty hard outside.

I took this photo recently, in near northwest suburban Elmwood Park Illinois. We are facing east in this view. The setting sun, is almost below the horizon in the western sky, and the multi colored hues of an approaching night time sky, make for a lovely and interesting comparison.

Community pride is evident at the North Sayre Avenue railroad crossing in Chicago's Mont Clare neighborhood.

This flower garden,s located at of all places, the North Sayre Avenue railroad crossing in Chicago's Mont Clare neighborhood at the Chicago city limits. A nice touch with a strong message of civic and community pride for local residents to enjoy.